AN- Ya'know, I don't have much to say, or at least at this moment. So Disclaimer and Enjoy! Oh and HG sneak peak is going be shown at the VMAs!
Chapter 14:
I look behind me and see Lachlan grasping my arm.
My breath catches. Damn it! I hope for another Tribute to come into the elevator between us, so that I'm not left alone with Lachlan and my stupid lies.
My prayers are answered when the girl from Six comes in with her district partner, just as the doors are about to close fully. Lachlan glares at them for interrupting, but stays quiet anyways.
When our floor comes up, we give a nod to the tributes and walk out quickly, his hand still on my arm. "Aura, what else aren't you telling me? Because you better tell me no-!"
"Get off!" I yell at him, shaking his hand off.
The commotion has Finnick and Marlene come out of the dining room. "What's going on?" Marlene asks.
I turn and speed by my mentors as I go to my room, ready to burst to tears without an explanation.
However, Finnick seems to read my mind and captures me in his powerful arms.
I try and struggle out of his bear hug but I know it's hopeless.
"I totally screwed up," I confess, tears pricking my eyes.
"It's okay," he whispers. "We were watching, we know."
Marlene seems to have a different reaction from Finnick, a harsher one.
I could imagine since she worked so hard to prepare me and Lachlan for this.
She's biting her tongue because it seems she doesn't want to look like a bad person in this tense situation, but I can see she's trying really hard.
"Aura," I hear Lachlan demands behind me. I suddenly lash out at him. "You don't get it, do you?" I yell at him, Finnick's grip on me becoming stronger as I begin to struggle. "There is no one back home!"
"What are you talking about? You said-!"
"It's you! I love you!"
Lachlan's jaw goes slack for a second and his eyes go wide and the room silences.
I rip myself away from Finnick's hug which is now weakened from shock.
I rush to my room and immediately lock the door. I lean against the door and sob for reason now spilling out of my mind.
Lachlan, I hurt his feelings, and I know I can't fix it before one of us dies in the Games.
Lark, Dad... I know I won't see them again. I don't have a chance against the Tributes and the Gamemakers.
And even if I do, I know life won't be the same. I know being poor and hated is a horrible lifestyle, but it's something I've adapted to. It's hard to take a creature out of a habitat they've known for so long.
A feeble knock sounds at my door, and without thinking I fling it open and stare at the person who knocked. Lachlan. "I love you too," he says and he reopens his mouth as to say something more, but I cut him off with a strong, passionate kiss.
More tears find their way down my cheeks as I pull back.
"I've fallen for you, like the idiot I am."
Idiot. I am an idiot. I've fallen in love with a fellow Tribute before the Hunger Games. I've fallen in love with a Tribute before one or both of us dies. Good job, Aura. Very. Good. Job.
I steal a glance around the hallway. No one is here but Lachlan and I. I assume either Lachlan has taken care of our mentors, or Finnick and Marlene are waiting for us at the dining room demanding an explanation from me. But for now, it's just me, Lachlan, and my tears.
"You really are stupid, Aura." he says. "But I am, too. I guess we've fallen for each other, huh?"
"At the worst possible time."
"But if we weren't picked, we wouldn't have met," he states.
I nod. "It's irony... at it's worst."
He chuckles slightly. "Guess it is."
As we stand in a quiet silence, I realize something.
The 73rd Hunger Games is tomorrow.
I guess recognition of it shows on my face because Lachlan asks, "Are you okay?"
"It's tomorrow."
"What's tomorr-oh."
A few tears escape me, and Lachlan hugs me and rests his chin on my head. And I come to terms that losing him is not an option.
….
About half an hour later and after we've changed out of our outfits, we're fetched by Marlene so that we can talk about our next move after my screw up. "After the mess up," Finnick states after we've sat down, "This is the conclusion I've come to. The lovers' thing didn't quite work out the way we've hoped. So instead we've decided that the lovers' thing will still go on, only in the Arena and not here. We thought of that, because, well…ya'know what happened earlier this evening…"
He looks between me and Lachlan before continuing. "It's obviously going to be more believable if you two are…in love for real." He looks at the black clock hanging on the wall and says, "Best you two head to bed. You have to get up early for the big day. Goodnight."
We start for the door. "Oh and you two… may the odds be ever in your favor."
AN- I really wanted Finnick to say something dramatic, and that's the result of it. Please Review! Recap: Aura confesses love; they try a new strategy, big day's tomorrow.
Oh! And one more thing, I'm started HS today, so I don't think I'll be able to update as frequently for at least the first week or two. But don't worry, I won't leave you hanging!